Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 11, 1896.
(Received Aug. 22.)
No. 943.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information a copy of my note, No. 135, of this date, to the minister of
foreign affairs, regarding spoliations at Harpoot, which I trust will
meet your approval. A simple announcement of the unsatisfactory
character of the note of the foreign minister seemed to be most proper
at present.
The detention of the wives of naturalized Americans and the imprisonment
of our citizens at Aleppo have engrossed my attention recently, but a
longer delay in making known your opinion of the foreign minister’s note
was not deemed proper.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 943.]
Mr. Terrell to
Tevfik Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 11, 1896.
Sir: The Department of State has returned a
note from His Excellency Mavroyeni Bey, dated July 11, containing
your reply to Mr. Olney’s note of May 29, regarding the destruction
of American property at Harpoot and the conduct of Turkish
authorities there in connection therewith.
The note of your excellency does not meet the circumstantial evidence
which shows how the buildings were set on fire, and that property of
the missionaries was taken from their dwellings and openly used by
the Turkish soldiery.
I must, therefore, regard the reply of your excellency as
unsatisfactory. It can not be considered as answering the just
demand of the United States Government for reparation and the signal
rebuke of those officers to whose negligence and connivance the
original act of incendiarism and the subsequent robbery were
attributable.
The former notes concerning burning and spoliation at Marash which I
have had the honor to receive from your excellency are equally
unsatisfactory.
Receive, etc.,
